Photographic apparatus



13, 5 L. RUBINSTEIN ET AL F 3,396,650

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ATTORNEYS 13, 1963 L. RUBINSTEIN ET AL 3,396,650

PHOTOGRA-PHIC APPARATUS Filed Sept. 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY M; M

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,396,650 PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Leon Rubinstein, Natick, Mass., and Arthur J. Sable, Riverside, Conn., assiguors to Polaroid Corporation,

Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 486,958 8 Claims. (Cl. 95-89) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A photographic copying apparatus wherein an area of an image-recording sheet is exposed, superposed with a second sheet and a processing liquid is distributed between the sheets to form a positive transfer image on the second sheet. The processing liquid is initially contained in an elongated container having an end which is rupturable by a hydraulic pressure generated within the liquid. Structure is provided for moving one of a plurality of containers from a storage area to a position adjacent the sheet and thereafter dispensing the processing liquid from the container while the container is moved lengthwise relative to and across the sheet and compressed.

This invention relates to photographic apparatus, and, more particularly, to photographic apparatus comprising means for treating a succession of areas of a photographic sheet by distributing processing liquids in contact with the areas.

In apparatus of the type with which the present invention is concerned, an area of an image-recording sheet is exposed, superposed with a second sheet and a processing liquid distributed between the sheets over and in contact with the exposed area to form a positive transfer image on the second sheet. The processing liquid is initially contained in an elongated tubular container and is dispensed from the container onto one of the sheets by locating the container adjacent and transversely of one of the sheets, compressing the portion of the container adjacent a lateral edge of the sheet, and moving the container lengthwise to progressively compress a remaining portion of the container and eject the liquid at trailing end of the container.

The invention is shown incorporated in photographic apparatus for making copies of original documents. Features common to apparatus of this type include means for feeding an original document into the apparatus and superposing it with an area of an image-recording sheet during the exposure thereof, superposing the exposed area with a second sheet and advancing the superposed sheets between a pair of juxtaposed members to distribute a processing liquid from an elongated mass adjacent the leading edges of the areas over and in contact with the superposed areas. Heretofore, the processing liquid was dispensed from the container onto the sheets by manually drawing the container between a pair of compression members located adjacent a lateral edge of the sheet.

Objects of the present invention are: to provide in apparatus of the type described for treating successive areas of photographic materials, novel and improved means for automatically locating an elongated tubular container of processing liquid adjacent a photographic sheet, compressively engaging a portion of the container, and advancing the container lengthwise relative to the sheet to dispense the liquid from the container onto the adjacent sheet as an elongated mass extending across the sheet; and to provide novel apparatus as described including means for advancing a container of processing liquid from a storage position among a plurality of containers to a location adjacent and transverse a photographic sheet in position to be advanced lengthwise rela- 3,396,650 Patented Aug. 13, 1968 tive to the sheet while its liquid contents are dispensed on the sheet.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing the construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional, elevation view of the document-copying apparatus embodying the invention, the section being taken substantially mid-way between the sides of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a view, partially in section, of a container employed in the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 of FIGURE 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a component of the apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is a view of an alternative structure for advancing a container of processing liquid through the apparatus.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 1 wherein is illustrated document-copying apparatus embodying the invention and comprising a housing 10 for mounting and enclosing the operative components. The housing comprises an upper housing section 12 and a lower housing section 14 pivotably secured to one another by a hinge 16, the hinge being located at one end, called the rear end, of the apparatus. The two sections are pivotable between a closed or operative position, shown in FIGURE 1, and an open or inoperative position in which the housing sections are separated to permit loading the photographic sheet materials into the apparatus.

Upper housing section 12 comprises an upper wall 18 in which are provided an inlet passage 20 and an exit passage 22 through which original documents to be copied can be introduced into and fed from the apparatus, and an opening 24 into a storage area or chamber in which a number of fluid-filled containers may be stored prior to use. A cover 26 for opening 24 is provided pivotably connected to upper wall 18 by hinges 28. Housing section 12 also comprises side walls 32, a forward wall 34 and a rear wall 36 to which the upper portion of binge 16 is connected. Portions of right side wall 32 serve to define a circular opening 38 through which the containers of processing fluid may be advanced lengthwise in the direction of their elongation from the housing.

Lower housing section 14 comprises a forward wall 40, portions of which serve to define withdrawal opening 42, side walls 44, a bottom wall 48, and a rear wall 50 to which the lower portion of binge 16 is connected.

The opera-tive components of the document-copying apparatus are mounted on a pair of chassis mounted within housing 10 in the upper and lower housing sections respectively. The lower chassis comprises a pair of side plates 52 securely mounted to and extending upwardly from bottom wall 48. The side nearest wall 32 includes a second circular opening 37 aligned with opening 38 for advancing container lengthwise from the apparatus. The upper chassis comprises a pair of upper side plates 54 extending downwardly from and securely mounted on upper wall 18. The lower chassis includes means for mounting the image-recording and second sheets used in the apparatus. The image-recording sheet 56, preferably in the form of an elongated strip, is supplied on a conventional spool 58 which is mounted for rotation near the rear end of housing 10. The second sheet 60, also in the form of an elongated strip, is provided on a similar spool 62 mounted for rotation near the forward end of the housing.

The apparatus includes an illumination source mounted in the lower chassis between side plates 52 for exposing the image-recording sheet in superposition with an original document and means for conducting the image-recording sheet and original document in superposition past the illumination source. The illumination source comprises a light conducting cylindrical bar 64 enclosed in an opaque tube 66 which is provided with an axial slot 68 equal in length to the image-recording sheet for transmitting actinic light emitted from bar 64 to the imagerecording sheet. The light source for the bar comprises a small incandescent lamp mounted within the end section of tube 66 adjacent to the end of bar 64.

The apparatus includes means for guiding the photosensitive sheet and an original document in superposition past the illumination source comprising a cylindrical tube 70 mounted for rotation on upper side plates 54, an elongated guide rod 72 mounted on lower side plates 52 parallel with and spaced slightly at a distance from tube 70, and a guide roll 74 mounted for rotation m juxtaposition with tube 70 on the opposite side of the tube from the guide roll. Photosensitive sheet 56 is conducted from spool 58, between guide rod 72 and tube 70, around a portion of the cylindrical surface of the tube and between the tube and guide roll 74. Axial slot 68 is positioned so that the actinic light transmitted from bar 64 exposes the portion of the photosensitive sheet which is supported by the cylindrical tube between the guide rod and guide roll. A pair of rolls, inlet roll 76 and central roll 78 are provided mounted for rotation in juxtaposition adjacent inlet passage 20 for advancing the original document, designated 80 in FIGURE 1, into superposition with the imagerecording sheet. An outlet roll 82 is provided mounted for rotation between upper side plates 54 parallel and in juxtaposition with the central roll 78 for engaging the original document following its exposure in superposition with the image-recording sheet and for then guiding the original out of the apparatus.

After the original document has been separated from the image-recording sheet and guided out of the apparatus, the exposed area of the image-recording sheet is superposed with the second sheet and a layer of a processing tliquid distributed between the sheets to form a copy of the original document on the second sheet. The means provided for distributing the liquid include a pair of pressure-applying rolls 84 and 86. Roll 84 is mounted for rotation on lower side plate 52 and roll 86 is mounted for rotation between a pair of movable members 88. A spring mechanism 90 is provided for biasing roll 86 toward roll 84. The exposed area of the image-recording sheet is guided around guide roll 74 and then between pressureapplying rolls. The second sheet is conducted from spool 62, around a guide rod 92 mounted between side plates 52 parallel with spool 62, around a portion of roll 84 and into superposition with the image-recording sheet between rolls 84 and 86. The portion of the second sheet between guide rod 92 and roll 84 provides a substantially horizontal surface adjacent the lower edge of withdrawal opening 38 on which the mass of processing fluid may be deposited.

In the apparatus shown, the processing liquid for each exposed area is supplied in an elongated tubular container very much like a conventional drinking straw. This container, designated 94 in FIG. 2, includes a cavity of substantially uniform cross section approximately equal in length to the width of the exposed portion of the imagerecording sheet and filled with a processing liquid. Both ends of the container are sealed with one end, called the trailing end and designated 96 being adapted to become unsealed to form a discharge mouth through which the processing liquid may be discharged in response to a hydraulic pressure generated within the enclosed liquid. A plurality of containers may be located in a storage area or chamber adjacent opening 24 in the upper housing section, and means are provided for advancing the containers from this storage area, one at a time, to locate each of the containers transverse the second sheet with trailing end 96 of the container adjacent the margin of the second sheet most distant from opening 38. The portion of the container adjacent the lateral edge of the second sheet nearest opening 38 is then compressed and the container advanced lengthwise from the apparatus. The progressive compression of the container during this advancement creates a hydraulic pressure in the enclosed liquid and causes end 96 of the container to become unsealed and the liquid to be ejected therefrom in the form of a uniformly elongated mass extending across the substantially horizontal portion of the second sheet between guide rod 92 and pressure-applying roll 84. The means for advancing the container adjacent the second sheet lengthwise to discharge the enclosed liquid onto the second sheet Will be described in detail hereinafter.

After the processing liquid has been discharged onto the image-receiving sheet, the image-recording and second sheets are advanced in superposition between the pressure-applying rolls to distribute the processing liquid between and in contact with the superposed sheets toward the trailing end of the exposed area of the image-recording sheet and over the exposed area to form a sandwich. The sandwich comprising the superposed sheets is required to remain in darkness during a predetermined period at the end of which it may be advanced from the housing and the sheets separated. A pair of withdrawal rolls 98 are provided mounted in juxtaposition for rotation on lower side plate 52 adjacent withdrawal opening 42 for advancing the superposed sheet through the housing in a lighttight environment and guiding them from the housing. When the sandwich is advanced from the apparatus, the portions of the superposed sheets containing the print may be severed from the remaining sheet material and separated; the image-recording sheet being discarded and the second sheet, which comprises a copy of the original document, retained.

In document-copying apparatus proposed heretofore in which the processing liquid is initially provided in an elongated tubular container, the container of processing fluid is manually withdrawn from the apparatus to dispense the liquid onto the adjacent photographic sheet. In some types of apparatus the container is manually introduced through an opening into position adjacent the sheet, the portion of the container adjacent the lateral edge of the sheet nearest the opening manually compressed, and the container then manually withdrawn through the opening. In others, a plurality of containers are provided in a storage area spaced apart from the photographic sheet, moved from the storage area one at a time into position adjacent the sheet, the container adjacent the sheet advanced lengthwise until an end of the container is adjacent the circular opening and the portion of the container adjacent the lateral edge of the sheet nearest the opening is compressed. In both types of apparatus, the end portion of the container adjacent the opening is grasped and the container manually withdrawn from the apparatus through the circular opening to dispense the enclosed liquid onto the adjacent sheet. Although satisfactory copies of original document may be produced using apparatus of either type, it should be apparent that it is desirable to reduce the number of manual operations to a minimum, both to eliminate the chances of human error and to increase the rate at which documents may be copied. The present apparatus, which is designed for use in an automatic document copier of the latter type, includes novel means for engaging the end portion of the container adjacent the circular opening and advancing the container completely from the apparatus.

A pair of generally V-shaped walls 100 are supported between lower side plates 52 and cooperate to form a recess or storage area for holding a plurality of containers within the apparatus, each wall 100 comprises a lower portion 102 inclined slightly inwardly toward a passage 104 between walls 103 dependent from portions 102. The facing surfaces of walls 103 are generally planar, parallel and define a passage 104 for guiding a container 94 downwardly from the storage area or chamber above portions 102 of walls 100 into alignment with opening 37 adjacent sheet 60.

Means are provided in the upper end of passage 104 for preventing containers within the storage chamber above the walls to enter the passage and for feeding the tubular containers one at a time from the storage area into the passage. These means comprise a generally cylindrical feed member 106 mounted for rotation in the upper portion of passage 104 between wall portions 102 and including an axial recess or channel 108 for receiving a single tubular container 94 at a time. Feed member 106 is rotatable through 180 from a position (shown in FIG- URE 1) in which channel 108 opens upwardly to permit a container to drop into the channel to a position at which the channel opens downwardly permitting a container in the channel to fall through passage 104.

The means provided for advancing the container of processing liquid at the bottom of passage 104 lengthwise until end 96 of the container is properly located relative to the second sheet and dispensing the liquid onto the second sheet by compressing the portion of the container located adjacent the lateral edge of second sheet 60 nearest opening 38 during movement of the container comprise a substantially cylindrical sheet engagement or advancement element 110' mounted for rotation adjacent the lower end of passage 104, and a pair of meshed gears 112 mounted for rotation on opposite sides of passage 104. A compression jaw 116 is mounted on each of gears 112 for rotation by the gears into compressive engagement with a portion of container 94 as shown in FIG. 4. Advancement element 110 is mounted coaxially with one of gears 112 on a shaft 114 and is in the form of a substantially cylindrical friction wheel, a segment or linear chord portion of which has been removed so that a container will drop freely to the bottom of passage 104 when the wheel is in the position shown in FIGURE 1. When shaft 114 and wheel 110 are rotated, the remaining portions of the cylindrical periphery frictionally engage the container between the wheel 110 and the opposite vertical wall 103 defining passage 104 and advance the container lengthwise. The gears and wheel are designed so that rotating shaft 114 will advance jaws 116 into compressive engagement with the container after it has been advanced the desired distance lengthwise. A generally F-shaped latch member 118 is provided pivotally mounted adjacent one end for engaging a notch in a collar 119 on shaft 114 when the jaws are together for preventing rotation of the shaft and thereby hold jaws 116 together with the container until it has been completely advanced from the apparatus.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, means in the form of a pair of gears 120 and 121 are provided intermediate side plates 52 and side wall adjacent an opening 37 in side plate 52 for positively gripping the end port-ion of container 94 as it is advanced through opening 37 by wheel 110 and advancing the container completely from the apparatus to dispense the processing liquid from the container onto the adjacent sheet. Gears 120 and 121 are loosely engaged, the distance between successive teeth of each of .the gears being substantially equal to the tooth width of the other gear plus twice the wall thickness of the container. The thickness of each gear is substantially equal to one-half the circumference of the fluid-filled containers. A pair of cylindrical discs 122, each having a diameter substantially equal to that of the addendum circle of gear 121, are mounted coaxially with gear 121 on the opposite face thereof.

A motor (not shown) is provided within housing 10 for driving the shaft 114 on which wheel 1'10 and gear 112 are mounted through the gear train illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. A gear 124 is mounted on the shaft 126, driven by the motor, in engagement with a second gear 128 which is designed to make one complete revolution while a container is completely advanced from the apparatus. A sector 132 of a bevel gear is mounted on shaft 130 in position for engaging bevel gear 134 mounted on shaft 114, and rotating gear 134 sufliciently to advance container 94 a predetermined distance lengthwise into the bite of gears 120 and 121 and to move jaws 116 into engagement with the container; and moves out of engagement with gear 134 as latch 118 locks shaft 114 in the position shown in FIG. 4. As gear 128 completes one revolution subsequent to the advancement of container 94 from the apparatus a release lever '136 mounted on shaft 130 adjacent sector 132 engages and coacts with the end of latch member 118 to move the latter out of engagement with collar 119 on shaft 114 and allow a torsion spring 138 to rotate gears 112, jaws 116 and wheel back into their initial positions.

Gear 120 is mounted coaxially with gear 124 on shaft 126 and is rotated by shaft 126 for rotating gear 120 to advance at all times when the motor is operating. In the illustrated apparatus, switching means are provided for activating the motor at the proper time during the document-copying cycle and then deactivating it in response to the release of latch 118 after gear 128 has made one complete revolution and gears 120 and 121 have advanced the container completely from the apparatus.

Reference is now made to FIG. 6 wherein is shown alternative structure for advancing the container of processing liquid at the bottom of passage 104. Here, a portion of wall 103 is replaced by a second advancement element 111 which is coupled to its associated gear 112 in substantially the same manner as set forth above between advancement element 110 and its associated gear 112. Advancement element 110 includes a pair of flanges 115, similar to flanges 113 mounted on opposite sides thereof and extending radially outwardly beyond the peripheral surface of element 110 to a point closely adjacent second element 111. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the flanges are spaced from one another by a distance at least equal to one-half the circumference of container 94. The flanges 113, 115 help to guide the containers through the apparatus. Also, as can be seen in FIG. 6, a segment or linear chord portion of the upper flange 115 has been removed to allow a container to freely drop to the bottom of passage 104 when element 110 is in the position shown.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In photographic apparatus for treating each of a succession of areas of a photosensitive sheet with a processing liquid dispensed from one of a plurality of elongated rupturable containers, in combination:

means for intermittently moving said photographic sheet along a predetermined path through said apparatus;

a pair of compression members mounted in juxtaposition adjacent a lateral edge of said path of said sheet, at least one of said members being movable from a first position at which said members are spaced apart to a second position at which said members are operative to compressively engage one of said containers adjacent said lateral edge;

first advancement means including a pair of engagement members located to the side of said compression members opposite said path for engaging an end portion of one of said containers between said engagement members;

means for positioning one of said containers adjacent and above said path with said one container disposed transversely of the direction of movement of said one sheet along said path and with portions of said one container disposed between said compression members and said engagement members; and

drive means coupled to at least one of said compression members and with at least one of said engagement members for moving said compression members into said second position prior to said engagement members moving said one container lengthwise relative to and across said path between said compression members to dispense the liquid contents of said container from the trailing end thereof onto said sheet.

2. The photographic apparatus of claim 1 wherein said engagement members comprise a pair of meshed spur gears.

3. In photographic apparatus for treating each of a succession of areas of a photosensitive sheet with a processing liquid dispensed from one of a plurality of elongated rupturable containers, in combination:

means for intermittently moving said photographic sheet along a predetermined path through said apparatus;

a pair of compression members mounted in juxtaposition adjacent a lateral edge of said path of said sheet, at least one of said members being movable from a first position at which said members are spaced apart to a second position at which said members are operative to compressively engage one of said containers adjacent said lateral edge;

first advancement means including a pair of engagement members located to the side of said compression members opposite said path for engaging an end portion of one of said containers between said engagement members;

means for positioning one of said containers adjacent and above said path with said one container disposed transversely of the direction of movement of said one sheet along said path and with portions of said one container disposed between said compression members and said engagement members;

drive means for moving said compression members into said second position and moving at least one of said engagement members in engagement with said one container to move said container lengthwise relative to and across said path between said compression members to dispense the liquid contents of said container from the trailing end thereof onto said sheet; and

second advancement means including a pair of juxtaposed engagement elements for engaging said containers intermediate said compression members and said first advancement means, said drive means including means for actuating said second advancement means to move one of said containers between said compression members into engagement with and between said engagement members prior to movement of said compression members into engagement with said one container.

4. The photographic apparatus of claim 3 wherein said engagement elements comprise friction wheels mounted in juxtaposition for rotation about generally parallel axes, at least one of said friction wheels includes a pair of flanges mounted on opposite sides thereof and extending radially outwardly beyond the peripheral surface of said one wheel to a point closely adjacent the other of said wheels, and said flanges are spaced from one another by a distance at least equal to one-half the circumference of said containers.

5. The photographic apparatus of claim 3 wherein one of said engagement elements comprises a friction wheel mounted for rotation coaxially with said one compression member and said drive means include means for simultaneously rotating said friction wheel and said one compression member.

6. The photographic apparatus of claim 5 wherein said friction Wheel includes a periphery having a generally cylindrical portion and a linear chord portion and is mounted for rotation about the center of said circular portion with the latter spaced from the other of said engagement elements by a distance less than the thickness of said containers.

7. In photographic apparatus for treating each of a succession of areas of a photosensitive sheet with a processing liquid dispensed from one of a plurality of elongated rupturable containers, in combination:

means for intermittently moving said photographic sheet along a predetermined path through said apparatus;

a pair of compression members mounted in juxtaposition adjacent a lateral edge of said path of said sheet, at least one of said members being movable from a first position at which said members are spaced apart to a second position at which said members are operative to compressively engage one of said containers adjacent said lateral edge;

first advancement means including a pair of meshed spur gears located to the side of said compression members opposite said path for engaging an end portion of one of said containers between said spur gears, said spur gears being of substantially equal thickness and each including a pair of circular flanges extending radially outward adjacent the sides of the teeth of said gears for guiding said containers between said gears;

means for positioning one of said containers adjacent and above said path with said one container disposed transversely of the direction of movement of said one sheet along said path and with portions of said one container disposed between said compression members and said spur gears; and

drive means for moving said compression members into said second position and moving at least one of said spur gears in engagement with said one container to move said container lengthwise relative to and across said path between said compression members to dispense the liquid contents of said container from the trailing end thereof onto said sheet.

3. In photographic apparatus for treating each of a succession of areas of a photosensitive sheet with a processing liquid dispensed from one of a plurality of elongated rupturable containers, in combination:

means for intermittently moving said photographic sheet along a predetermined path through said apparatus;

a pair of compression members mounted in juxtaposition adjacent a lateral edge of said path of said sheet, at least one of said members being movable from a first position at which said members are spaced apart to a second position at which said members are operative to compressively engage one of said containers adjacent said lateral edge;

first advancement means including a pair of meshed spur gears located to the side of said compression members opposite said path for engaging an end portion of one of said containers between said spur gears, the thickness of said gears being at least equal to one-half the circumference of said containers, the distance between successive teeth of each of said gears being at least equal to the tooth thickness of the other of said gears plus twice the wall thickness of said containers, said gears each including at least one pair of cylindrical discs mounted coaxially with said gear on opposite sides thereof, the diameter of said discs being at least equal to the diameter of the addendum circle of said one pression members to dispense the liquid contents gear; of said container from the trailing end thereof onto means for positioning one of said containers adjacent said sheet.

and above said path with said one container disposed transversely of the direction of movement of said 5 References Cited one sheet along said path and with portions of said UNITED STATES PATENTS one contalner disposed betvveen said compression 3,134,317 5/1964 Land members and Sam spur gears and 3 266405 8/1966 Sable et a1 95 89 dI'lV6 means for movlng said compression members 3:350:99? 11/1967 Mason 95 89 into said second position and moving at least one 10 of said spur gears in engagement with said one container to move said container lengthwise rela- NORTON ANSHER Pnmary Exammer' tive to and across said path between said com- BRAUN, Assistant Examiner- 

